Lincoln Academy Head of School speaks to Bristol Lions 01/01/2010

On Jan. 4 the Bristol Lions enjoyed a beef stew dinner prepared by their new caterer David Atwater, of Atwater and Stir Catering in Damariscotta.

After dinner, they welcomed as their speaker Jay Pinkerton, Head of School of Lincoln Academy and a resident of New Harbor.

A true Mainer, Pinkerton was born in Dover-Foxcroft, holds a master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Maine and taught at Foxcroft Academy for 10 years before coming to the Midcoast area.

Hired as Associate Head of School at Lincoln Academy in 1996, Jay Pinkerton was named Maine’s Assistant Principal of the year in 2003. He took over as the Head of School in 2006 when his long-term friend and mentor, Howard Ryder, retired due to health reasons. This is Pinkerton’s 14th year with Lincoln Academy.

Currently president of the Maine Association of Independent Schools, Jay Pinkerton serves on the Legislative Committee for the Maine Principal’s Association. His wife, Kathy, is a teacher at Lincoln Academy and all three of his daughters are graduates.

LA is a “town academy” established in 1891, one of only 10 left in the state. Ninety-nine percent of the 547 enrolled students are public tuition students from the area towns. The remaining 1% are private students including two on foreign exchange.

The school’s “Third Century Capital Campaign” completed in 2001, has raised $4.5 million, with $1 million of that coming from a single donor. Using a plot plan of the LA land, Pinkerton outlined some of the projects that had been completed with those funds: The Poe Theater, Dining Commons, new science labs, four tennis courts, fire and safety upgrades and an additional elevator to make the campus more accessible.

There is still a lot to be done, including a new library/learning center that can be accessed after school hours. Also, changing rooms and parking next to the Poe Theater, reconstruction of the technical shop to provide better ventilation and light, and a four-lane Olympic sized track and athletic field.

The impact of the state’s recent budget, explained in the Dec. 31 issue of The Lincoln County News, will have a considerable impact on the timetable for such plans.

Pinkerton went on to highlight some of the many awards and the recognition won by the school, its programs, staff members, individual students and extra curricula activities. Seventy-five percent of LA’s graduating seniors go on to post-secondary schools, including two- and four-year colleges, technical schools and branches of the military.

One Lion asked: “How many starting freshmen graduate after four years at Lincoln Academy?” What amazed the group was his answer of 97- ½%. Pinkerton explained the staff strives to offer programs to meet every student’s individual needs. The hope of many Lions is that the students truly appreciate how fortunate they are to be attending Lincoln Academy.

Pinkerton thanked the Bristol Lions for their “Lions Speak-Out program for LA students, which is slated this year for the club’s March 1 meeting. He also thanked them for the generous scholarships that are awarded to each year to graduating seniors of LA.

At the business meeting that followed recognition was given to Eileen Parent for organizing the club’s annual Christmas party. Thanks went out as well to all who provided financial assistance for the recent Bristol Lions Christmas Food Basket program. These additional donations totaled over $500.